But for all this, he was the pride of his circle, with a pleasing presence and an indefinable charm of manner.
The father and son saw little of each other.

M.de Camors was too proud to entangle his son in his own debaucheries; but the course of every-day life sometimes brought them together at meal-time.

He would then listen with cool mockery to the enthusiastic or despondent speeches of the youth.

He never deigned to argue seriously, but responded in a few bitter words, that fell like drops of sleet on the few sparks still glowing in the son's heart.
Becoming gradually discouraged, the latter lost all taste for work, and gave himself up, more and more, to the idle pleasures of his position.
Abandoning himself wholly to these, he threw into them all the seductions of his person, all the generosity of his character--but at the same time a sadness always gloomy, sometimes desperate.
The bitter malice he displayed, however, did not prevent his being loved by women and renowned among men.

And the latter imitated him.
He aided materially in founding a charming school of youth without smiles.